Long-service leave in hospitality: what Joint Committee 302 actually provides
In hospitality, length of service does not bring the same number of extra days in every company. Joint Committee 302 does provide additional leave linked to years spent with the same employer, but the first day is not awarded at the same point for all company sizes. That detail matters when preparing end-of-year staff schedules.
Small business or large team: the threshold changes
In companies with fewer than 50 employees, a full-time worker receives the first day of long-service leave on the tenth anniversary of their contract. A further day is then added for every five years of uninterrupted service: two days at 15 years, three at 20, four at 25, and so on.
In companies employing an average of 50 workers or more, entitlement begins earlier: one extra day at 5 years, two at 10, three at 15, then a further day every five years. Company size is therefore not simply an administrative figure; it determines when the right arises.
The Fédération HoReCa Wallonie explains that the average number of employees is calculated at 31 December under the applicable workforce-counting rules. For part-time staff, leave is granted in proportion to the agreed working hours.
An existing similar company benefit changes the picture
It is also important to check what the business already offers. If the company grants a similar benefit, the additional sectoral days do not automatically accumulate on top. This is precisely the point to check in establishments that have developed their own staff retention arrangements over the years.
Long-service leave is taken by agreement with the employer and must, in principle, be used by 31 December of the year in which it is awarded. If it could not be taken for a reason unrelated to suspension of the employment contract, it may be carried over to the following year. These days are paid by the employer under the rules used for statutory public holidays.
Why check contract anniversaries before December?
For a restaurant, the risk is not simply overlooking a day's leave. Poor tracking of length of service can force late changes to schedules when teams are already stretched. A simple list of start dates, working arrangements and accrued entitlements helps anticipate absences and avoid last-minute discussions. In a profession where staff retention is much discussed, it is also a very practical way to recognise those who stay.
